Applying novel analytical methods to elucidate bio-nano interactions at individual cell level in plants

Phytonanotechnology (use of Engineered Nanomaterial, ENMs, in agriculture) supports the controlled release of agrochemicals (e.g., fertilizers, pesticides) and target-specific delivery of biomolecules (e.g., nucleotides, proteins, and activators) for increased disease resistance, nutrient utilization, and crop yield.

Along with the groundbreaking potential of such techniques, one should be careful about their trophic transfer to plants. This topic has been rarely studied, compared to the toxic effect of ENMs in human systems.

However, assessment of ENM toxicity to plant cells is critical to the implementation of nanotechnology in agriculture and support of global sustainability and the EC's European Green Deal.

The proposed project addresses potential key cellular processes involved in the delivery of ENMs to plants and the safe use and social acceptance of phytonanotechnology, assessing potential adverse effects, including the risks associated with the transfer of ENMs through the food chain.

To do so, novel analytical techniques are essential that could study metal-based ENMs and their distribution within individual cells.

The development of Single Particle ICP-MS (SP-ICP-MS) is a new area of research which allows rapid detection and analysis of ENMs in a variety of matrices and applications, as it allows discrete pulses of positively charged ions to be detected and measured in a time resolved manner using microsecond data acquisition rates.

PhytoENM will go beyond, applying the concept of Single Cell ICP-MS (SC-ICP-MS), where individual cells are rapidly analyzed for their particulate & ionic content, something that has not been done before in plants. The project will also use novel stable-isotope labelling techniques pioneered by the applicant team.

This would allow the understanding of the interaction of metal-based ENMs in single cells spatially, and the related mechanistic pathways, leading to information on their distribution and potential toxicity.